GMTK 2025 SUBMISSION- HELIOSYNC

GMTK 2025 GAME JAM ENTRY :

Edit: Significant changes since the first upload have been made, please play again if oy had a chance to play pre -end of jam, resolving a few issues along the way... and adding some bits. Hope yo make it to the end of the game for a nice nostalgic surprise :)

PLEASE READ BELOW :

Premise:

Uses a one button mechanic to order orbiting bodies around a star, keep them looping without touching the red danger zone and getting them to  settle in the green scoring zone, this starts a countdown timer to complete the level. You must keep all orbiting bodies in the green zone , if any one leaves, the timer will be reset and you will have to align the orbital loop for all bodies again before the timer restarts its countdown.

HOW TO PLAY:Use your mouse left click, or the tap action on your mobile device.

HOW TO BE GOOD:  Use patience and rhythmic tapping or tapping burst sequences, it is not a furious cookie clicker mechanic, its more about feeling when you need to boost all.

THE CLOSER YOU ARE TO THE STAR THE TOUGHER IT IS TO BREAK FREE FROM THE GRAVITATIONAL PULL, SO FASTER TAPPING OR CLICKING WILL BE REQUIRED OF YOU :)

IT MAY PAY OFF KNOWING AT THIS POINT THE GAME IS 3D, NOT 2D, YOU ARE ORBITING A SPHERICAL PLANET .

USE THE GREEN ZONES TO GET ALL ORBITING THINGS IN ALIGNMENT.

KEEP THEM AWAY FROM THE STAR'S SURFACE [ORANGEY /RED ZONE IS THE DANGER ZONE]

Simple one click or touch mechanic, potentially challenging gameplay, possibly addictive if Id made more levels, but this is more like a beta slice than a complete and fleshed out vertical slice.

		This last image is obviously cat tax. My cat likes to sunbathe like she's dead, its a constant worry, turns out she just really loves sunbathing

PROGRESS 2:

QUICK PLAY OF GAME:

How does my submission attempt to  fit the GMTK Theme this year: LOOP

The mechanic is designed to get you to a sense for the rhythmic looping cyclic clicks needed to help bring all the orbiting bodies into sync and keep them looping for a length of time without breaking the synced chain of orbiting bodies.The aesthetic is designed to be relaxing but hopefully a bit of fun after a go or two and getting used to it. :)

Thanks so much for playing and rating if yo get a chance :)

CAVEATS:

It may be required to decrease browser zoom by 20 % down to 80 or 90% to see the whole thing in a Browser, but is perfectly playable at 100% still as far as I've tested, just for that full experience really I guess :~) The mobile option seems to work really well, so i suggest a mobile device else yep, just hold Ctrl key and press the minus button once or twice for the full view :)

KNOWN ISSUES: 

Some particle effects like smoke on the asteroids when they enter the red/danger zone orbit of a star, or the explosion if the orbiting boy has been in the red zone for too long and been destroyed do not appear in the WEBGL browser version. FIXED

Currently the balls seem to have stop being rendered on Android when using the Itch.io Rn game from a mobile device or when accessing the desktop site on a mobile device. I think is shader related, but need to investigate a bit deeper. FIXED

Working as expected on PC/ Desktop in any compliant browser I've tested

Please download the Windows or Android APK to see the full  effects on top of the game Thanks again 

Timestamp: 
            Submitted 15:12 03/08/25